Hath done this deed on Cafar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony;
Our arms exempt from malice, and our hearts
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in

With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Caf. Your voice fhall be as ftrong as any man's
In the difpofing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient 'till we have appeas'd
The multitude, befide themselves with fear;
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cafar when I ftrook him,
Proceeded thus.

Ant. I doubt not of your wifdom.

Let each man render me his bloody hand;
First, Marcus Brutus, will I thake with you;
Next, Caius Caffius, do I take your hand;

Now, Decimus Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;

Though laft, not leaft in love, yours, good Trebonius.
Gentlemen all-alas, what fhall I fay?

My credit now ftands on fuch flippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you muft conceit me,
Either a coward, or a flatterer.

That I did love thee, Cafar, oh 'tis true;
If then thy fpirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
To fee thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the prefence of thy corfe?
Had I as many eyes as thou haft wounds,
Weeping as fast as they ftream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to clofe

In terms of friendship with thine enemies.

Pardon me, Julins here waft thou bay'd, brave hart,
Here didft thou fall, and here thy hunters ftand
Sign'd in thy fpoil, and crimfon'd in thy death,

Caf.

And

Caf. Mark Antony

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius; The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this: Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Caf. I blame you not for praifing Cafar fo, But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be prick'd in number of our friends, Or fhall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Cæfar. Friends am I with you all, and love you all, Upon this hope, that you fhall give me reasons Why, and wherein Cafar was dangerous. Bru. Or else were this a favage fpectacle. Our reafons are fo full of good regard, That were you, Antony, the fon of Cæfar, You fhould be fatisfied.

Ant. That's all I feek;

And am moreover fuitor, that I may
Produce his body to the market-place,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
Bru. You fhall, Mark Antony.

Caf. Brutus, a word with you —

You know not what you do, do not confent

That Antony fhall speak in his funeral:

Know you how much the people may be mov'd
By that which he will utter?

Bru. By your pardon,

I will my felf into the pulpit first,
And fhew the reafon of our Cafar's death.
What Antony fhall fpeak, I will proteft
He fpeaks by leave, and by permission;
And that we are contented Cæfar fhall
Have all due rites, and lawful ceremonies:

And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer ftricken by many princes,
Dolt thou here lye?

Caf. Mark Antony, &c.

[Afide.

It

It fhall advantage more, than do us wrong.

Caf. I know not what may fall, I like it not.
Bru. Mark Antony, here take you Cafar's body:
You shall not in your funeral fpeech blame us,
But fpeak all good you can devife of Cæfar,
And fay you do❜t by our permiffion :
You shall not else have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you fhall speak
In the fame pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it fo;

I do defire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us. [Exeunt,

Ant. O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth! That I am meek and gentle with thefe butchers. Thou art the ruins of the nobleft man

That ever lived in the tide of times.

Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophefie,

(Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue)
A curfe fhall light upon the 'kind' of men;
Domeftick fury, and fierce civil ftrife,

Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
Blood and deftruction fhall be fo in use,
And dreadful objects fo familiar,

That mothers fhall but smile, when they behold
Their infants quarter'd by the hands of war,
All pity choak'd with custom of fell deeds.
And Cafar's Spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his fide come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines, with a monarch's voice,
Cry Havock, and let flip the dogs of war;

3 limbs

That

That this foul deed fhall fmell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter Octavius's Servant.

You ferve Octavius Cæfar, do you not?
Ser. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæfar did write for him to come to Rome.
Ser. He did receive his letters, and is coming,
And bid me fay to you by word of mouth

O Cefar!

[Seeing the body. Ant. Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep; Paffion I fee is catching, for mine eyes

Seeing those beads of forrow ftand in thine,

Begin to water. Is thy mafter coming?

Ser. He lyes to-night within feven leagues of Rome.' Ant. Poft back with speed, and tell him what hath chanc'd. Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,

No Rome of fafety for Octavius yet;

Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet ftay a while,
Thou shalt not back, 'till I have born this corfe
Into the market-place: there fhall I try
In my Oration, how the people take
The cruel iffue of thefe bloody men;
According to the which, thou fhalt difcourfe
To young Octavius of the ftate of things.
Lend me your hand.

[Exeunt with Cæfar's body,

Enter Brutus, and mounts the Roftra. Caffius, with the

Plebeians.

Pleb. WE will be fatisfied; let us be fatisfied. [friends.

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, Caffius, go you into the other street,

And part the numbers:

Thofe

Thofe that will hear me fpeak, let 'em ftay here;
Those that will follow Caffius, go with him,
And publick reafons fhall be rendered

Of Cafar's death.

1 Pleb. I will hear Brutus speak.

2 Pleb. I will hear Caffius, and compare their reafons, When fev'rally we hear them rendered.

3

[Exit Caffius, with fome of the Plebeians.

Pleb. The noble Brutus is afcended: filence! Bru. Be patient 'till the laft.

Romans, Countrymen, and Friends! hear me for my cause; and be filent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have refpect to mine honour, that you may believe. Cenfure me in your wisdom, and awake your fenfes that you may the better judge. If there be any in this affembly, any dear friend of Cæfar's, to him I fay, that Brutus's love to Cæfar was no lefs than his. If then that friend demand, why Brutus rose against Cæfar, this is my anfwer: Not that I lov'd Cafar lefs, but that I lov'd Rome more. Had you rather Cafar were living, and dye all flaves; than that Cafar were dead, to live all free-men? As Cæfar lov'd me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I flew him. There are tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. Who's here fo bafe that would be a bond-man? if any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo rude, that would not be a Roman? if any, fpeak; for him have I offended. Who is here fo vile, that will not love his country? if any, speak; for him have I offended. I paufe for a reply All. None, Brutus, none. Bru. Then none have I offended I have done no more to Cæfar than you fhall do to Brutus. The question of his death is inroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences enforc❜d, for which he suffered death.

Enter